Golf ball retriever



April 10, 1962 P. W- WARD GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed NOV. 13, 1961 INVENTOR.

Pau/ M Mam BY 1 u AFOAWZ Y United States Patent Ofiiice 3,029,097 Patented Apr. 10, 1952 3,029,097 GOLF BALL RETRKEVER Paul W. Ward, 816 S. West St., Findlay, Ohio Filed Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,768 7 Claims. (Cl. 294-49) This invention relates generally to golf game equipment, and more particularly to a novel golf ball retriever for retrieving balls from water hazards and other inaccessible places.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a golf ball retriever that is simple in structure yet very effective in the function of entrapping and containing a golf ball.

An object of this invention is the provision of a golf ball retriever that is easy to manipulate and positive in its action.

Another object is to provide a golf ball retriever that is operable by the use of only one hand.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a golf ball retriever that, after entrapment, positively contains the ball regardless of the position to which the retriever may be moved, raised or otherwise held.

Yet another object is to provide a golf ball retriever including a pivotal gravity gate ring for entrapping a golf ball.

Other specific objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retriever invention showing a golf ball entrapped therein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the retriever invention showing the retriever device placed over a golf ball resting on the ground, or the like, as the first stage in retrieving a golf ball;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the retriever invention showing the retriever device lowered to a position surrounding the golf ball as the second stage in retrieving a golf ball, and showing the pivotal gate ring moved and raised to an open receiving position, and further showing the pivotal gate ring gravity actuated to a closed broken line position entrapping the golf ball;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the retriever invention showing the retriever, and the golf ball entrapped therein, lifted bodily into the air, as the third and final stage in retrieving a golf ball; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partly in section, illustrating an application of the invention in retrieving a golf ball from a golf hole cup.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown generally indicated at it a cage for encompassing and surrounding a golf ball 11, a gate ring 12 pivotally mounted on said cage 10, and a handle generally indicated at 13 for said cage.

The cage 16 comprises a large lower ring 14 of an inside diameter larger than a golf ball to receive such golf ball quite loosely therethrough.

A support bar 15 extends upwardly from said lower ring 14, that is vertically to the plane of said ring. Said support bar is secured to said lower ring as by welding or brazing.

Said support bar 15 terminates in an inwardly projecting short arm 16, and said arm is disposed parallel to the plane of lower ring 14 and radially thereof.

A smaller upper ring 17, axially aligned with the larger lower ring 14, is secured to the end of short arm 16 as by welding. The plane of the upper ring 17 is parallel to the plane of the lower ring 14. The inside diameter of the upper ring is of a measure smaller than the diameter of a golf ball to prevent the golf ball from passing therethrough.

The lower and upper rings 14 and 17, respectively, are spaced apart a distance less than the measure of the diameter of a golf ball.

A post 18 extends upwardly from lower ring 14 and is disposed diametrically opposite vertical support bar 15. Said post 18 extends upwardly, vertical to the plane of lower ring 14, and terminates approximately midway between said lower and upper rings. The post is secured to the lower ring as by welding or brazing.

The upper end of post 18 is provided with a bore or eye 19 to pivotally receive gate ring 12 therethrough. Said gate ring is disposed to pivotally oscillate between said lower and upper rings, and has an inside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a golf ball, to receive a golf ball freely therethrough, yet smaller than the diameter of lower ring 14.

When said gate ring is disposed parallel to the lower ring, a golf ball can pass freely therethrough, allowance being made for the projecting outline of eye 19.

'At rest, the pivotal gate ring assumes a diagonal position, inclined downwardly from the eye 19 toward support bar 15, and resting at two points, equally spaced, one on each side of support bar 15, on the inner periphery of said lower ring 14, such as indicated at 21, see FIG. 1. In this position of rest, the outer and lower end portion 22 of the gate ring 12 is inside of and below lower ring 14, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

The upper end portion of support bar 15 is provided with a pair of spaced ears 23 and 24 axially bored to receive pin 25 therethrough.

The handle or shaft generally indicated at 13, formed of a plurality of telescopically related and engaged sections 26 and 27, is pivotally attached to the cage 10 through means of ears 23 and 24, and pin 25.

The handle sections 26 and 27 are adapted to be held in extended or telescoped position, frictionally.

The pivotal coupling of the handle to the ears, through pin 25, is sufliciently tight to frictionally maintain the cage body 10 in any position to which it may be turned by hand.

The handle 13 is adapted to swing to an operative vertical position, that is to a position at right angle to the plane of lower ring 14, such as shown at dotted line position 28. see FIG. 4.

Operation: Assume that the golf ball 11 is resting on the bottom 29 of a water hazard, or beyond a fence, or otherwise out of reach of an inaccessible spot. The shaft 13 is telescopically extended to a length so that the ball can be reached with the cage 19.

The retriever cage is maneuvered until the lower ring 14 is disposed above ball 11, and then lowered over the ball until the lower ring 14 encircles the upper portion of the ball and the lower end portion 22 of gate ring 12 approaches engagement with the ball.

As the cage 10 is continued to be lowered, the lower end portion 22 of gate ring 12, positively engages the sharply sloping adjacent side of the ball 11, and continued lowering of the cage causes such end portion to he slid ably held up on the ball while the cage and remaining portion of the gate ring proceed downwardly at a faster rate to surround the ball. See FIG. 2.

When the gate ring 12 reaches a position substantially parallel to the lower ring 14, see FIG. 2, the end portion 22, previously slidably held up on the sharply sloping side of the ball, suddenly drops past the widest or equator portion of the ball, gravitationally, and stops supported in a declined dotted position 12' on the lower ring 14, see FIG. 3.

As the gate ring 12 is pivotally dropped it swings in an arc and comes to rest on lower ring 14 and under a portion of ball 11.

The ball is now trapped and ready to be elevated and retrieved. As the cage is elevated, the end portion 22 engages the adjacent under side of the ball 11, and the opposite corresponding side of the ball engages the post protuberance 32 on lower ring 14 thereby providing stable support means for the ball. The retriever is then maneuvered so that the cage with the ball trapped therein is swung to the free hand of the operator who merely actuates the gate ring to a position substantially parallel to the lower ring 14 which allows the ball to roll out of the bottom of the cage through lower ring 14.

Regardless of the position to which the retriever may be moved, raised or held, the ball will be trapped in the cage. The small upper ring 17 prevents the ball escaping therethrough or thereby.

The handle 13 can be pivotally swung vertically, that is at right angle to the plane of lower ring 14, and be used to retrieve a ball from a golf hole cup 31, such as shown in FIG. 5.

Some characteristic features of this invention are the provision of a golf ball retriever having a gravitationally actuated gate ring for trapping a golf ball; and a golf ball retriever that contains a golf ball regardless of the position to which the retriever may be moved, raised or otherwise held.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A golf ball retriever, comprising: a lower ring having an inner diameter to loosely receive and guide a golf ball therethrough; an upper ring spaced from said lower ring and having an inner diameter less than the diameter of such golf ball, said upper ring being substantially axially aligned with and disposed substantially parallel to said lower ring; bar means connecting said rings at substantially oppositely disposed points on said rings; a post extending upwardly, substantially vertically, from said lower ring; a gate ring having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of such golf ball to receive such golf ball therethrough; means for pivotally connecting said gate ring to said post, said gate ring being disposed to oscillate between said lower and upper rings and to a position substantially parallel to said lower ring, and to a position of rest on said lower ring; a handle; and coupling means for connecting said handle to said bar means; whereby when said gate ring is lowered over a golf ball the outer end portion of said gate ring is caused to engage the adjacent sloping side of such golf ball and be slidably held up thereon until said gate ring is disposed in a position substantially parallel to said lower ring and the outer end portion of said gate ring is engaged substantially at the equator portion of such golf ball, and whereby further lowering of said gate ring will cause the outer portion of said gate ring to drop gravitationally past the equator portion of said golf ball, onto said lower ring and under an adjacent portion of said ball, whereupon an upward lift of the retriever causes the ball to be engaged by said outer end portion and also by the lower ring at said post and be retrievably held thereby.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling means are pivotal means operative to allow said handle to be moved in a plane substantially at right angle to the plane of said lower ring and to an upright position substantially at right angle to the plane of said lower ring, said pivotal means being sufliciently tight to frictionally maintain said handle in any position to which it may be turned by hand.

3. A golf ball retriever, comprising: a lower ring having an inner diameter to loosely receive and guide a golf ball therethrough; stop means spaced above said lower ring adapted to engage such golf ball when such golf ball is disposed substantially through said lower ring; bar means rigidly connecting said lower ring and said stop means; a post extending from said lower ring toward said stop means; a gate ring having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of such golf ball to receive such golf ball therethrough; means for pivotally connecting said gate ring to said post, said gate ring being disposed to oscillate between said lower ring and said stop means and to a position substantially parallel to said lower ring, and to a position of rest on said lower ring; and a handle connected to said bar means; whereby when said gate ring is lowered over a golf ball the outer end portion of said gate ring is caused to engage the adjacent sloping side of such golf ball and be slidably held up thereon until said gate ring is disposed in a position substantially parallel to said lower ring and the outer end portion of said gate ring is engaged substantially at the equator portion of such golf ball, and whereby further lowering of said gate ring will cause the outer portion of said gate ring to drop gravitationally past the equator portion of said golf ball, onto said lower ring and under an adjacent portion of said ball, whereupon an upward lift of the retriever causes the ball to be engaged by said outer end portion and also by the lower ring at said post and be retrievably held thereby.

4. A golf ball retriever, comprising: support means including a substantially vertically extending post having a lower end portion; a gate ring having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of a golf ball to receive such golf ball therethrough; pivotal means for pivotally connecting Said gate ring, at one portion thereof, to said post, said pivotal means being spaced above the lower end portion of said post and the pivotal axis being disposed horizontal, said gate ring being operative to oscillate upwardly and downwardly of said pivotal axis and to a position substantially at right angle to said post; and handle means connected to said support means; whereby when said gate ring is lowered over a golf ball the outer end portion of said gate ring is caused to engage the adjacent sloping side of such golf ball and be slidably held up thereon until said gate ring is disposed in a position substantially at right angle to said post and the outer end portion of said gate ring is engaged substantially at the equator portion of such golf ball, whereupon an upward lift of the support means causes the golf ball to be engaged by the outer end portion of said gate ring and the ball side of said post and be consequently retrievably held thereby.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and a small protuberance on said post below said pivotal axis and projecting inwardly of said gate ring, for engaging such golf ball at an underside portion thereof when an upward lift to the support means is applied.

6. In a golf ball retriever, support means including a substantially vertically extending post having a lower end portion; a gate ring having an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a golf ball to receive such golf ball therethrough; and pivotal means for pivotally connecting said gate ring, at one portion thereof, to said post, said pivotal means being spaced above the lower end portion of said post and the pivotal axis being disposed horizontal, said gate ring being operative to oscillate upwardly and downwardly of said pivotal axis and to a position substantially at right angle to said post; whereby when said gate ring is lowered over a golf ball the outer end portion of said gate ring is caused to engage the adjacent sloping side of such golf ball and be slidably held up thereon until said gate ring is disposed in a position substantially at right angle to said postand the outer end portion of said gate ring is engaged substantially at the equator portion of such golf ball, whereupon an upward lift of the support means causes the golf ball to be engaged by the outer end portion of said gate ring and the ball side of said post and be consequently re'trievably held thereby.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and a small protuberance on saidvpost below said pivotal axis and projecting in- Wardly of said gate ring, for engaging such golf ball at 5 an underside portion thereof when an upward lift to the support means is applied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,325 Pfeifier Jan. 16, 1951 2,549,257 Staunt Apr. 17, 1951 2,962,321 Fowler Nov. 29, 1960 

